'All options on the table' in talks between Cricket Australia and sacked employee

By Samantha Maiden

5 August 2018 — 1:34pm

Sacked Cricket Australia government relations manager Angela Williamson is seeking reinstatement and a six-figure compensation payout from the sport’s governing body over allegations she was fired for campaigning for abortion reform.

But Cricket Australia has signalled a resolution may be on offer, with cricket chiefs reaching out privately to reassure her they are “thinking of her and hope she’s ok’’ as legal talks continue.

The confidential documents lodged with the Fair Work Commission by Cricket Australia on Friday night outline the organisation’s defence to allegations it breached Ms Williamson’s protected right to political opinion under industrial laws.

However, both parties are also in confidential talks to come to a resolution.

Loading

“Cricket Australia appreciates this is a sensitive and personal issue for many and we respect any individual’s rights to their views. This is not a matter related to views on abortion policy, or access," a spokesman said.

“The circumstances surrounding the decision are now the subject of legal proceedings. We are respecting that process.”

Ms Williamson told the Herald it was pro-life Tasmanian health minister Michael Ferguson who disclosed her abortion to Cricket Tasmania CEO Nick Cummins during a phone call in June.

Mr Ferguson denies disclosing information not already on the public record - a reference to Ms Williamson's tweets and media interviews about abortion reform using a pseudonym.

That phone call in June included Mr Ferguson telling Mr Cummins that as a Christian, he viewed Ms Williamson’s conduct through the prism of “forgiveness” and was not troubled personally by her campaign - a detail he has now publicly confirmed as accurate.

Angela Williamson is now in confidential talks with Cricket Australia to come to a resolution. Credit:Peter Mathew

Ms Williamson had previously privately discussed with Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman her experience as one of the first women to travel to the mainland for a termination. She also previously worked in his office.

“The reality is I did not disclose to the Cricket Tasmania CEO that I had sought a termination," Ms Williamson told Fairfax.

Loading

“During this process I was told that my personal story, including that I had a termination was disclosed by the health minister.

“I don’t think it matters whether the minister assumed or not that Cricket Tasmania knew, I don’t think it’s up to the minister to disclose my personal medical history.

“I had not told the Cricket Tasmania CEO I had a termination. While my focus is resolving this through the Fair Work Commission, I am considering how to address the alleged government involvement.

“I am disturbed by what I have been told.”

However, Mr Ferguson has denied disclosing her private medical history or urging Cricket Australia to sack her, stressing that he did not discuss anything that was not on “the public record”.

“No member of the Tasmanian Government has sought to pressure, complain or seek action from Cricket Australia or Cricket Tasmania on anything Ms Williamson has published or said publicly," Mr Ferguson told Fairfax on Friday night.

“Any suggestion that the Government has disclosed private information, not on the public record, to either Cricket Australia or Cricket Tasmania is false.

“The Government has always had a good working relationship with Ms Williamson."

The Premier said this week that “as per what Mr Cummins has said, [Mr Ferguson] appreciated the call, and ... said he would be more than happy to not only forgive Ms Williamson, so to speak, but not to seek any action from Cricket Australia, not to seek to influence them in any way with respect to her employment.

”Our relationship with Ms Williamson in the past in her working capacity has always been a good one."

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White said it was now clear that “only an independent investigation will reveal the truth.”

After Mr Cummins confirmed the phone call this week, Mr Ferguson added: "This conversation was not initiated by me and the only matters we discussed were that which were already on the public record.''